Robert "Lono" Ikuwa, Provo, UT: an interview by Savani Aupiu, 21 September 2009: Pacific Islanders Oral History Project, U-2015

Transcript (34 pages) of an interview by Savani Aupiu with Robert "Lono" Ikuwa on 21 September 2009. Part of the Pacific Islanders Oral History Project, Everett Cooley Collection tape no. U-2015

Robert Ikuwa (b. 1977) was born in Honolulu, Oahu. He is the youngest of four children. They grew up in Kona, Hawaii. Robert left to go to Kamehameha schools. He joined the Mormon Church and served a mission in Japan. He did his undergraduate at BYU Hawaii, his Master's at BYU Provo and is currently studying for his PhD at BYU Provo in education leadership. He teaches Hawaiian at BYU and Japanese at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, and often travels to Japan to teach the Hawaiian language and hula. He talks about the origins of his names. He had his name legally changed to Child and Ikuwa after meeting his grandpa. He did not want to carry on his grandpa's name so he took his grandmothers' names instead. Robert is now the only male carrying on the Ikuwa family name. Both his parents worked so his maternal grandmother played a big part in raising him and his siblings. He talks about what it was like growing up with her. He describes attending Kamehameha, a private school for native Hawaiians. Kamehameha is a boarding school so he had to move away from home and live on campus. Robert hated school because it was so strict and structured. Robert talks about his musical education. He was very talented and for a time wanted to become an opera singer. He studied viola, violin, and singing. He traveled to New York, Washington DC, Scandinavia, and Europe with the Festival of Pacific Arts. One of his teachers was so strict and tough, though, he drove Robert to stop singing and playing music. After high school Robert started teaching Hawaiian in an immersion school. But after he met a financial advisor who suggested he become an institute director or seminary teacher and who told him he needed a Master's degree, he decided to go back to school. He finished his Bachelor's at BYU Hawaii in two years. After earning his Master's at BYU Provo he returned to Hawaii and worked as a Hawaiian language director of a school, and a curriculum developer. Then, after talking with professors and students in the PhD program at BYU Provo he decided to go back. He tells the story of how he came to be a member of the Mormon Church. He spent a summer with his uncle's family, who were Mormon, and was exposed to their way of life. He also had a lot of Mormon friends. Robert decided that he was happiest when he was with his Mormon friends and family so he prayed about it and decided to attend the church. Eventually he talked with missionaries and decided to be baptized. Robert has a dream to open a Hawaiian culture academy in Japan. He wants to get married and start a family. He would like to serve more missions. And he hopes to have residences all over Hawaii and in Utah. Project: Pacific Islanders. Interviewer: Savani Aupiu